Early Modern Blog
The Early 20th Century: The Age of Anxiety
Early in the 20th century, a time known as the Age of Anxiety, there was a tremendous deal of uncertainty. Fast developments in science, technology, and politics only helped to heighten the unease that many people were feeling as the globe was still struggling to recover from the tragedy of World War I. As artists attempted to convey their emotions and investigate the human condition, this feeling of discomfort and worry was represented in the work produced during this time. The Age of Anxiety is depicted in three works of art: Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (1907), Edvard Munch's "The Scream" (1893), and Max Ernst's "The Elephant Celebes" (1921).
Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselles
d'Avignon" (1907)
"Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso
is a revolutionary piece that started the Cubist movement. Five prostitutes are
shown at prostitutes in the painting, with highly stylized twists and fractures
to their faces and bodies. The fear and uncertainty of the moment were directly
addressed by this significant departure from typical images of the human
figure.
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon's scattered characters reflect
society's breakdown and the loss of cultural beliefs. Picasso's use of strong,
jagged lines and acute angles creates a feeling of tension and anxiety, and the
women's aggressive glare suggests a test of the viewer's assumptions. A further
indication of the influence of non-Western cultures on European painters at
this period is the use of African and Ocean masks in the picture, which added
to the feeling of unease and confusion expressed by many.
Edvard Munch's "The Scream"
(1893)
The fear and hopelessness that dominated the early 20th century are arguably best captured in the film "The Scream." Eternal dread has come to be associated with Munch's frightening painting of a warped and twisted figure face, grasping its head in seeming pain.
In "The Scream," Munch uses swirling, curved
lines and vibrant colors to convey a sense of movement and stability that
reflects the unrest of the time. The figure's wide eyes and gaping mouth
express terror and shock, expressing the general fear and anxiety that
dominated society. "The Scream" is a powerful, emotional representation
of the Age of Anxiety because the vast landscape and distant humans in the
background only help to increase the sensation of loneliness and misery felt by
the main character.
Max Ernst's "The Elephant
Celebes" (1921)
Max Ernst, a significant figure in the Dada and Surrealist movements, was greatly impacted by the confusion and disappointment that prevailed in the early 20th century. One of the best examples of how the Age of Anxiety was portrayed in the art of the time is his picture "The Elephant Celebes."
A strange, surreal picture from "The Elephant
Celebes" portrays a gigantic, mechanical elephant-like beast standing in a
lonely area, surrounded by many strange and out-of-place objects. The painting's
surreal, shattered style captures the feeling of uncertainty and disorientation
that many people experienced during the Age of Anxiety. The painting's
physical, economic elements as the elephant and the structure in the distance
that resembles a factory—also serve to draw attention to how quickly technology
was developing at the time, which only helped to increase the sense of unease
and anxiety felt by many.
Summary:
Examining works by Pablo Picasso, Edvard Munch, and Max Ernst, we can see how the early 20th century's anxiety and uncertainty were clearly mirrored in the art of the period. These pieces serve as a striking example of the Age of Anxiety and its influence on the art world. They are distinguished by their aggressive use of line, color, and form as well.
References:
1. Poggi, C. (2009). Inventing Futurism: The Art and
Politics of Artificial Optimism. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
2. Rewald, S. (2001). The Art of the Age of Anxiety.
In: The Age of Anxiety: From the European Art to the American Scene. New York:
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Hi Carli! I enjoyed examining the three pieces of art you provided and their relationship to the Age of Anxiety in the early 20th century. Munch’s, The Scream, appealed to me the most out of all the paintings you presented. The incorporation of raw emotion was vivid, the movement of the background was masterfully done, and the varied lines really emphasized the meaning of anxiety. I thought it was interesting how all three of these artists represented anxiety and unease in their own fashion.
ReplyDeleteThe Age of Anxiety definitely had a global lasting effect of uncertainty due to the conclusion of World War I. Early modern art conveyed a multitude of emotions and allowed artists to create pieces that had a more personal element that hadn’t typically been common before. In this case, the emotions portrayed could have been anxiety, uncertainty, discomfort, worry, etc. It is quite amazing how three very distinct works can hold different meanings, while still all being influenced by the Age of Anxiety.
I had looked into the influence of African Americans on art in this time period and the personal element was also present. Every painting held a moving meaning and a valuable piece of culture and heritage. Because I chose that influence, I was excited to learn about this one as well! Instead of focusing solely on one subject matter or style in the early 20th century, artists emerged by producing a wide variety of art forms. I learned a lot from your discussion!
Hi Carli, thank you for sharing!! Great post! You and I shared some similar thoughts and interest in similar art works this week! I also chose "The Scream" and "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" because they truly fit well with the theme of The Age of Anxiety, with significance of emotions, facing the unknown, the death and rebirth of culture, social norms, and political changes.
ReplyDeleteYour third piece, "The Elephant Celebs" I found to be very interesting. It seems to be a surrealistic masterpiece that reflects the anxiety and uncertainty of the early 20th century. The disjointed composition and dreamlike quality of the painting I think convey a sense of disorientation and unease that was prevalent during the Age of Anxiety.
Thank you for sharing!!
Hello Carli,
ReplyDeleteI think you have a very interesting display of art that accurately depicts the different aspects that surrounds the anxiety that was present in early 20th century art. I am not the biggest fan of cubist art because I love realism, but I really like the painting called "The Scream" due to the use of colors and just how it all blends together. All of the pieces, to me, show an element of anxiety that early modern art has because of the colors and what is depicted. I found it interesting that "The Scream" is considered a universal sign of anxiety for people around the world.
10 things you may not know about the scream. The British Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-scream#:~:text=The%20actual%20scream%2C%20Munch%20claims,be%20The%20Scream%20of%20Nature.&text=Detail%20from%20Edvard%20Munch%20(1863%E2%80%931944)%2CThe%20Scream.
Hi Carli, excellent blog post! Les Demoiselles d'Avignon has to be my favorite out of the three paintings. I love the cubism style and find it very interesting to look at. It feels almost messy, and I enjoy that because life is often chaotic, and I think it adds to the anxiety in this era. The elephant celebs are my least favorite painting out of the bunch. I find it very dull, but with further analysis, I think it represents anxiety perfectly. I am highly overweight, but I am overweight; this painting clearly shows my feelings. I always feel like I am huge and taking up most of the room and that people are judging my body, making me feel small and insecure. With the skinny white figure in the bottom right of the screen seeing people who are 4 times skinnier than me makes me feel like I'm a literal elephant.
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